What is the best way to get my wiper arms back on? (87)

[Skunksmash]

Looks like its gonna be a real pain to get the wiper arms back on the truck. 87 model. I was thinking of taking the spring off, but I can see that being a real pain to get back on as well. Anyone have any smooth tricks for dealing with these things? If you're familiar with them, you know the spring inside draws them tight, to like a 40 degree angle. So you've gotta resist the spring, at the same time trying to get the wiper arm back on there.

Not easy. I need to adjust them, to get the wiper to sit where its supposed to. For some reason the guy at the body shop didn't think this was of much significance when he put them back on.

[Keith Seymore]

a) Make sure the wiper system (post) is in the parked position

b) Position the wiper blade so it is horizontal on the glass, with the base of the arm positioned (kinda "hooked") over the post (still in the bent position)

c) Push on the "knee" of the base of the arm, pushing it over the post while at the same time pulling on the blade end (helping to straighten the "knee" out)

d) Once it's started good wack it with your hand or with a rubber hammer to completely seat

e) Repeat

So - the trick is to get the blade horizontal, and not mess that up while you are trying to seat the end. And the other trick is to get the end "flattened" out so you can get it started on the post. Once it's started you are home free.

K

[Skunksmash]

Not sure if I understand.... are you saying there is like a little indicator mark on the post which tells you exactly what position to put it in?

[Keith Seymore]

Nope -

I'm saying first of all to make sure the wipers (the wiper system) are "off". Obviously this is not going to work if they were shut off while in motion, but I figured I should at least mention it.

There is no alignment feature on the post or the wiper arm (no keyway or blank spline or anything). The only way it is going to get lined up is by how you position it on the glass.

In later years we added a little black dot to the windshield as a target so the operator would know where to position the wiper blade on the glass. I suspect you won't have that so you'll just have to eyeball it.

K

[Skunksmash]

Yeah that is what I ended up doing. I just muscled it on there, its a pain. They definitely didn't make it easy. I got it on there, but In the past I've seen the dang things try to go further down than the glass does. Its weird. In the off position, the wiper will sit in the right spot. But then when you turn them on, the wiper will try to go down too far, and it gets off the bottom of the glass. That's frustrating when you think you've finally got it all perfect. And when normally, when they're not on, it sits just right. Ugh.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Skunksmash

... but In the past I've seen the dang things try to go further down than the glass does. Its weird. In the off position, the wiper will sit in the right spot. But then when you turn them on, the wiper will try to go down too far, and it gets off the bottom of the glass.

Hmm.

When they "go down too far and get off the bottom of the glass" do they stop short on the top of the stroke?

Almost sounds like the system is not parking in the right spot, so that when you put the arms on the system is already part way through the stroke.

Said differently, my theory is that if you had never taken the arms off they would be up on the glass when off, rather than parked in the horizontal position.

Make sense?

K

[Skunksmash]

Yeah I was thinking that maybe the wiper motors are just really old? And maybe wore out. Yes imo, they have always stopped short on the top stroke. Then again, I never had one of these trucks when they were brand new, so I don't really know if where it stops is "normal".

I was thinking that it might have something to do with the angle of the bend on the wiper arm itself. If it is bent perfectly, it should stop at the very bottom and never go off the glass.

[ghostflyer]

This tool will help you overcome the spring tension and straighten out the arm.

http://www.lislecorp.com/divisions/p...s/?product=384

[Keith Seymore]

I thought a couple photos might help:

This is in the "parked" position. Wipers are horizontal and this is as far down as they go (they don't go off the glass towards the bottom).



...and this is the upper limit of travel:



Yours should be operating within that range. If they are not it sounds like the wiper system is not parking in the correct spot and therefore you are trying to put the arms on with the posts not in the correct position.

K